Design, Architecture, Gardens, Southern California Living

Arrivederci, Milano: Final scenes from the furniture fair

April 21, 2010 | 8:02
am

The Milan furniture fair has so much to see. Too much, actually. Photographer Franco Forci took more than 500 pictures for me -- and that was just one day. Designers have it worse. Venture to launch parties and they get surrounded by any journalists who bothered to look up from their hors d'oeuvres plate. As lines formed to interview Konstantin Grcic, one British journalist jokingly called it speed dating, to which Grcic could offer only the faintest of smiles -- perhaps because that's probably how it felt to him: speed dating with pushy, sweaty note-takers who ask the same questions and often expect free food.

But as tiring as it was, the week played out like a good party. Fun while it lasted. Glad it's over.

Here are some departing scenes, starting above with Helena Svensson's glass-topped desk called For Every Little Thing, which was showcased in the "Hidden Heroes" exhibition in Milan's Tortona design district. A clutterholic's nightmare, the desk actually would be quite functional for neat freaks, who wouldn't have to open multiple drawers in search of the right key, stamp, rubber band or dry-cleaning receipt. Just look, then pull.

Studio Job and Pieke Bergmans collaborated on the Wonderlamp show in Milan's Brera design district. Illuminated glass seemingly oozed from a brassy pendant and bubbled out of a genie's bottle.

In the Salone Satellite exhibition, Jovan Topalovic's carpet really did look like farmland to anyone who flew by on foot.

Mugs shot: The beer garden and coffee stand at the Schuller booth at the fair proved the power of repetition.

A Whirlpool oven display, on the other hand, proved the power of blindingly neon glass. Because doesn't everyone need an oven in pink watermelon or parsley green? And in case you were worried ...

Burners do come in coordinating colors.

And finally, my favorite only-in-Milan moment:

How do you see a Milan exhibition large enough to cover 39 football fields? Riding a scooter and wearing heels, of course.

-- Craig Nakano

Photo credits: For Every Little Thing from Helena Svensson; Fields carpet by Franco Forci / For The Times; all others by Craig Nakano / Los Angeles Times